Scripture Notes

Oh, Peter!: Peter the Stumbling Block

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:00:00 -0700

Matthew 16:21-28

“Peter the Stumbling Block”

Peter tries to convince Jesus that he cannot be serious about the trials ahead. Jesus retorts, “Get behind me, Satan!” Watch as Peter moves from “the rock” of Matt 16:18 to the “stumbling block” of Matt 16:23. This is the last of several weeks spent considering stories about and with Simon Peter.

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Oh, Peter!: Peter the Rock

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:00:00 -0700

Matthew 16:13-20

“Peter the Rock”

Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus declares, “on this rock I will build my church.” Join us for the second of three weeks with Simon Peter.

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Seeds & Soil: Abundance

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:00:00 -0700

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

“Abundance”

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, yeast, treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great value, a net that was thrown into the sea and full of fish of every kind. The Kingdom of Heaven is what is new and what is old. It is all things before, after, and becoming. God will sort it all to collect what is vital. Join us on Sunday!

Artwork: Vincent Van Gogh

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Scripture Notes is a production of Trinity United Methodist Church, Colusa.
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Seeds & Soil: Causes

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:00:00 -0700

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

“Causes”

Jesus shares the parable of weeds planted along with the good wheat. He tells his followers that when goodness and malice are sufficiently mixed up together, all should be allowed to grow until harvest. Sometimes, our attempts to root out embedded evil may do great harm to the good. Sorting will come soon enough. Not only will the weeds be burned off, but God will also take care to burn off the causes of mendacity as well.

Artwork: Vincent Van Gogh

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Scripture Notes is a production of Trinity United Methodist Church, Colusa.
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Seeds & Soil: Rootedness

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:00:00 -0700

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

“Rootedness”

What if our becoming who we hope to be in Christ changes us almost beyond recognition? Jesus reminds us that the good word roots where it can get a purchase. Seeds that fall into the richness of a good heart are utterly transformed. Hear the word and grow.

Artwork: Vincent Van Gogh

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Out & About: Slow Transformation

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:00:00 -0700

Matthew 11:16-19, Matthew 11:25-30

“Slow Transformation”

For all the ways being a student of Jesus will stretch us, the burdens remain far lighter than the burdens of the world. If we must be yoked to something, let us submit to the gentle compassion of Christ.

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Out & About: Empowered to Preach and Teach

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:00:00 -0700

Mark 6:7-13 and Matthew 9:35-10:8

“Empowered to Preach and Teach”

Jesus sends out his twelve closest students to preach the good news and heal. He sends his students into the world, asking them to just bring themselves and the good news. They have everything they need to do the work at hand.

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Out & About: Unlikely Disciple

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0700

Matthew 9:9-13,18-26

“Unlikely Disciple”

Jesus asks Matt the Tax Collector to be his disciple. The hemorrhaging woman touches Jesus’ cloak and is healed. Jesus raises the young daughter from the dead. Whew! There is a lot going on in this passage. Again and again, we see Jesus in the world seeking, teaching, and healing those burdened and cast aside without qualification.

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Stretch: Pentecost

Mon, 25 May 2026 11:00:00 -0700

Acts 2:1-21

“Pentecost”

During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit falls on the disciples. But the breath of the Spirit was given to the disciples even as they hid in fear in the upper room. Sometimes the Spirit helps us to survive tragedy. If we continue in our faith, we will find that Spirit also calls us out into the world.

If we are serious about walking the path of Christ, we will be stretched.

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Always With Us: With Us

Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:00 -0700

John 14:15-21

“With Us”

Jesus assures his followers He will be with them and will be alive even if He is no longer of this world.

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

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Always With Us: Keep Going

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0700

Luke 24:13-35

“Keep Going”

Jesus walks with his followers on the road to Emmaus as they lament his death, but they do not even recognize him. How often do we fail to see that Jesus is walking with us even now?

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Always With Us: Prove It

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0700

John 20:19-31

“Prove It”

Thomas asks for proof that Jesus has returned on the other side of death.

Jesus provides exactly the proof that Thomas needs, without shame and without hesitation.

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How It Started, How It's Going - He Is Risen!

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0700

Matthew 28:1-10

“He Is Risen”

Palm and Passion Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday remind us to not mistake the feeling or situation of any one moment for the meaning and impact of a life in its entirety. In this short sermon series, we explore the idea of “How It Started, How It’s Going.”

Easter Sunday, we begin the season of Easter with rejoicing. The end is not the end, but the beginning. All are welcome regardless of religious background, belief, Christian experience, or church affiliation.

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Outside & Alone: Alone at Night

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0800

John 3:1-17

“Alone At Night”

In the weeks between Jesus’s challenge alone in the wilderness and the triumph and tragedy of Jesus’s walks alone through the crowds on days of palms and passion, we find Jesus interacting with others who are alone in some way.

He fully engages outsiders: those who seek God, those at the edges of social acceptability, and those able to hear and heal.

This second Sunday of Lent, we follow along with Nicodemus as he visits Jesus at night.

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First Fruits: Fish

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0800

Matthew 4:12-23

"Fish"

We continue our first sermon series of the year, First Fruits, as we read about the fulfillment of Isaiah. Jesus proclaims, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Peter and Andrew are recruited to start gathering people, instead of fish.

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First Fruits: Lamb and Dove

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0800

Matt 3:13-17, John 1:29-42

“Lamb and Dove”

We begin our first sermon series of the year, First Fruits, we read about John the Baptist calling Jesus the Lamb of God and consider the meaning of the dove.

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Safety in an Unsafe World: Another Road

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0800

Matthew 2:1-12

“Another Road”

The Magi, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, left for their own country by another road. We are reminded that devotion to God requires us to care for our mind, body, and spirit by being open to new information, keeping ourselves out of harm’s way, and seeking Jesus in the company of fellow travelers.

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Safety in an Unsafe World: Keeping Watch

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 22:00:00 -0800

Luke 2:1-20

“Keeping Watch”

Join us for our Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 pm to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

On Christmas Eve, we light the Christ candle. Like the shepherds keeping watch, we can choose — despite our fear — to trust in the message of God, “Do not be afraid,” and rush forward to seek Christ.

Artwork: John August Swanson

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Gathered: Tools and Talents

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 21:00:00 -0800

Luke 5:1-11

"Tools and Talents"

You have everything you need to do your very best work. “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.'”

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